Flexible-post binder



pril 21, 1925.

\ L. M. PARKER FLEXIBLE Pos1' BINDER Filed July 51, 1922 .Ali

pdllllqlnllrldllllbnullllllllnlllvvll leZz'e Jfrker.'

' yUNITI-:D STATES LESLIE M. PARKER, or EvANs'roN, Timmers..`

Patented' Api. 21, 1925.

A 1,534,283 PATENT OFFICE.

FLEXIBLE-POST BINDER.

Application mea Tuiy s1,

ers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to post binders of the type wherein a iiexible post is used. The

flexible post is 'preferably in the'form o f a link chain, although other forms of iiexible. posts may be used. .In the form here illustrated gear teeth are cut directly intolthe flexible post and the driving mechanism therefor takes direct hold upon the flexible post and it is not necessary to use sliding means to which the chain is attached. One

object of the invention is to provide a simple Aconstruction wherein direct hold is taken upon the iiexible post itself and wherein that part of the, ost ywhich is under tension is pulled into t e binder and that part of ythe st which isl not undertension is pushed.

i ther objects will a pear-from time to time throughout the spec1fication and claims.

My invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatioally in the accompanying drawing, wherein: l

Figure `1` is a horizontal cross section with parts in elevation showing one of the backs of a'binder;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section taken on line 2 2 of Figure '1;

Figure 3' is a vertical cross section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 isa detail showing the post guiding member. l

Like parts are designated by like char` acters throughout.

A is a hollow end piece within which the tightening mechanism is located. It is lprovided with two end closing members A, A?, the member A2 being perforated to permit manipulation of the tightening` mechanism. B is one ofthe covers of the binder. It is i hinged to the member A as shown. C is the end section of the upper art of the binder any tightening mechanism, although itv might be madeexactly the same as the lower member A vand would then contain aduplicate of the tightening mechanism shown in that member. As shown it ismerely providedwith a pair of perforations C through `which one end of the iiexible post extends.

vformed as link chains.

4to receive a sectional post H2.

1922. Serial No. 578,577.

Located Within the member A is a pair of guiding and bearing members D. Each of these members is provided with a perforation D adapted to serve as a bearing and is also provided with a slot D2, through which the iexible post passes. The top of the slot D2 is provided with a rounded surface D5' about which the flexible post is bent and against which it bears. Extending inwardly and 1n horizontal alignment with one side of the slot D2 is a projecting member Df. This member serves as a guiding and retainin part to hold the flexible post in proper opera-` tive position. Itis curved on its innersurl face as shown to conform to the flexible post.

Supported in the bearings D is a rotary operating shaft E shaped at one end as at E to be engaged by a key whereby it may be rotated. Mounted upon the shaft E adjacent either end and opposite the member D4 of the member D is a worm E2, these i worms being formed opposite to each other. Fastened at one end to the member C and extending downwardly through the perfora` tions in the paper F within the binder is a pair of iiexible posts G, G, preferably These link chains have cut in one of their sides gear teeth G adapted to mesh with the worffsE2 above described, and to be moved by their rotation. The end link of each of the chains is left smooth and without any gear teeth as shown at Gr2 in order to serve as a stop and to prevent the chain from being accidentally turned out of engagement` with the worms. The uppermost link ofthe chain'G is formed as shown at H. This link is provided with the screw threaded bore H and is adapted This sectional post is also provided with 4a'screw threaded bore Hs and is adapted to receive a screw` threaded member H4 which serves to prevent withdrawal-of the chain through the upper cover C and thus acts as a tension receiving member. In order to lengthen the chain the member H4 may be removed and other sectional members supplied. the member I-I always being screwed inthe upper end of the top sectional post member. I have shown a link chain of circular cross section, and while this is preferable thechain may be made of elliptical cross section or any4 rounded cross section. It might be .generally angular with rounded corners, or it may be rectangular or triangular wth rounded corners. Where in bronze.

the claims the expression of rounded cross section is used I do not wish to be limited to a chain of circular cross section. Any rounded cross section devoid of sharp'corners is within the contemplation of my invention.

Where in the claims I have referred to the parts `of which the flexible chain is made as being substantially inflexible I mean that the material of which they are made is not intended to be flexed or otherwise to yield in the operation of the binder. rIhe parts are preferably made of steel vor Each of these materials is to some extent flexible and also elastic but their elasticity and flexibility is not used in the operation of the binder. For that purpose the material may be considered substantially Inflexible and inelastic, and the language of the claims is to be understood in this sense.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

Ordinarily no rigid sectional post members are necessary,a sullicient amount of ex pansion and contraction being provided by the movement of the chain into and out of' the back of the binder. When the required number of sheets has been placed in the binder the shaft carrying the worms is rotated and since the worms are oppositely faced both of the chains will be drawn inward and the two backs of the binder drawn to ether so as to hold the papers in position. Wllien it is desired to add more papers the shaft is rotated so as to loosen the binder and they are then tightened again when the paper has been inserted. The reverse of this process is carried out where paper is to be removed.

When a large quantityy of paper is put into the binder it is sometimes desirable to increase its capacity in excess of the length of the chain normally forming part of the binder. Thisis done by removing the screw member at the top of the chain and by the addition of a suitable number of rigid sectional post members. However many of .these members may be inserted the flexible post always remains at the bottom and this flexibility provides for the necessary adjustment for bringing the parts together to hold the paper.

Although I have shown an operative device, still it will be obvious that many changes in size, lshape and relation of parts may be made without departing'materially from the spirit of my invention.

In particular the chain might have gear teeth cutY on the opposite side from ,the one shown in the drawing and the worms will be on that side instead of the side where they are now, shown. Also the gear teeth might be cut to mesh with a 'pinion instead of a worm and the axis of rotation ofl such pinions would be substantially vertical with the plane of the binder back. A further modification would include cutting gear teeth on the inner face of the chain, that is the face about which it bends yand placing at the point of flexure of each chain a pinion about which it would bend and which -would engage the gear teeth. By rotation of these pinions the chain would bebrought in or moved out. Many other such changes of detail might be made, and I wish therefore that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic, and I do not wish to be limited to the specific construction here shown.

I claim:

l. In a loose leaf binder a pair of covers and means for drawing them together, including a flexible member of generally circular cross section and means for gripping it intermediate its ends and for moving it in and out, said flexible member being formed of substantially inflexible material.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of covers and means for drawing them together, comprising a flexible member of generally circular cross section and rotary means for gripping it intermediate its ends and for moving it in and out, said flexible member being formed of substantially inflexible material.

3. In a loose leaf binder,a pair of covers and means for drawing them together, comprising a plurality of flexible members of generally circular cross section and means for gripping them intermediate their ends adapted to draw them in and out, said flexible members being formed of substantially inflexible material.

4f. In a loose leaf binder a pair of covers and means for drawing them together, said means including a flexible member of generally circular cross section, projections on said member and means for engaging said projections and for gripping said member intermediate its ends, said means adapted to draw said member in and out, said flexible members being formed of substantially inflexible material.

5.- In a loose leaf binder a pair of covers and means for drawing them together including a flexible member of generally circular cross section, projections on said member and rotary means for engaging said projections and for gripping said member intermediate its ends and adapted by its rotation to draw said member 1n and out, said flexible members being formed of substantially inflexible material.

`6. In a loose leaf binder, a pair` of covers and means for drawing them together, said means comprising a plurality of 'flexible members of generally circular cross section, projections on said member and means for engaging said projections and for gripping 4said members intermediate their ends and for simultaneousl 1 drawing them in or out, said flexible members being formed of sub` stantially inflexible material.

7. In a loose leaf binder, a pair -of covers p and means for drawing them together, said means comprising a plurality of iiexible members of 'generally circular cross section,

' cross section, gearI teeth cut in said chair aan and a gear mounted for rotation inengagement with saidteeth and adapted by its .rotation to movesaid chainin and out. 4

9. In a loose leali binder, apair' of covers.

and means iformdr'awing them .together, said means cnprising a plurality of iexible chains of rounded cross section,gear teeth cut in said chains and gears mounted for rotation in en agement with said teeth and adapted by t eir rotation -to move said 1 cut in said chains and rotation to move sald chalns 1n and out, said chains in and out, 4said gearsfmountedso as to move in unison. Y

10. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of covers and means for drawing them together,'said means comprisin a Aplurality of flexible chains of round cross section, gear teeth ears mounted for gears mounted upon:y a single shaft.

11. In -a loose leaf binder, a pair of covers and means for drawin them-together, said,

means including a lexi le chain offroundefl cross section, gear, teeth .cut in said chai-n and a gear mounted for rotation to'l move saidfchain in and out and a guide forsaid chain in opposition to said gear.

12. In a looseleaf binder, a; pair of covers and means for drawing them-together, said.v means including a link chain of rounded cross section, worm gear teeth cut' in said chain and a worm gear, inengagement with said chain and means for rotating said worm to move said chain in and out.

13. Ina loose leaf binder, a pair of covers and meansfor drawing them together, said means comprising a plurality of link chams of rounded cross section, worm gear teeth cut in each of said chainsand a plurality' of worm gears, onein enga ement with each of said chains and means or rotating said worms to move said chains in and out, andv guides for said chains in opposition to said worms.

14. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of covers, and means for drawing them together, said meanscomprising a plurality of link chains of rounded cross section, worm gear teeth cut in each of said chains Yand a plurality of worm gears, one in engagement with each of said chains and means for rotating -said worms toy move said chains in and out, said worms mounted, so as to move simultaneous'l y f 15. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of covers and means for drawing them together, said means comprising a plurality of link chains of rounde cross section, worm gear teeth cut 1n each of them and worm: gears 1n engagement with cach ofthem and a shaft uponwhich all ofsaid gears are mounted, a guiding member for said chains and about which said chains are adapted to turn.

16. In a loose `leaf binder a pairl of covers, and means for :drawing them together, said means including a flexible rack of enera'lly rounded cross section made up o substantially infiexible parts, said rack attached to one of-said covers, gears withina5 the other cover adapted to engage saidirack,

means' for rotating said gears, said gears adapted by their rotation to draw the rack ible member, a major part of whose circum-l v ference is'curved, and means for gripping it intermediate its ends and ffor movlng it in or out.

means for drawing them together, a l:lienible member made up of su stantially inliexible parts and means. for gripping it Vintermediate its ends and moving it in or out, the flexible member and thegripping means being so shaped as to prevent accidental outward movement of the flexible member. y -v 20. In a loose leaf binder, covers and means for drawing them together, a flexible member and rotary means for gripping l it intermediate/its ends and moving it in or out, the liexible member and the gripping means being so shaped as to prevent accidental outward movement ofA the `flexible member.

21. In a loose' leaf binder, covers and means for drawing them together, said means including a'flexible chain, gear teeth cut in said chain, and a ear mounted for rotation in engagement with said teeth and adapted by its rotation to move said chain in or out, the shape of the gear teethin v said chainl and the gear in engagement therewith being such as to prevent accidental outward movement of the chain.

Signed at Chicago county of Cook and State of Illinois, thls 28th day of Jul 1922.

' LESLIE M. PARIER.

- 10c 19. In a loose leaf binder, 'covers and 

